Winter Is Coming: D.C. Upgrades Snow-Fighting Fleet

So far it’s been a pretty mild winter, but city leaders in the District are not taking any chances with mother nature this season, and is rolling out a revamped snow strategy. Mayor Vincent Gray showed off part of it Wednesday, rolling out the city’s new and improved snow-fighting fleet: two columns of heavy-duty dump trucks, equipped with plows and salt spreaders -- lined up outside city hall.

"We have got the vehicles, the people, and the contracts in place to prepare us for snow events large and small," says Mayor Gray.

 And Gray says more trucks and snow-clearing equipment are on the way. The city spent nearly $5 million to upgrade its fleet. Residents can track the status of plows, and whether there are snow emergencies, at their revamped District Snow Team website.

Beyond pure muscle, other key changes include a promise of earlier decisions about closings and delays for the schools and government agencies -- with the mayor promising to get the word out before 4:30 a.m. 

D.C. is also launching a new ‘telework’ plan for certain city workers on snow days. And there will be a new motto for everyone caught at work during a blizzard: "shelter-in-place."